Its seeds when parched, and crushed between two stones, produced a kind of meal, of which cakes of bread were manufactured by Ossaroo.

These, although very far inferior to the real home-bake, or even to the most ordinary production of the bakehouse, were nevertheless sufficiently palatable to those who had no other bread.
The lake, besides yielding fish to the nets of Ossaroo, also afforded a supply of vegetables.

On searching it, the botanist discovered several edible kinds of plants; among others the curious _Trapa bicornis_, or horned water-nut--known among the natives of the Himalayan countries by the name _Singara_, and much used by them as an article of wholesome food.
There was also a splendid water-lily--with very broad leaves and large flowers of pink and white colour--the seeds and the stalks of which Karl knew to be edible; as he had read of their being used for this purpose by the poorer people in the country of Cashmeer.

The lily in question, viz.

the _Nelumbium speciosum_, grows plentifully in the lakes of the far-famed valley so named.
On first observing this beautiful plant growing luxuriantly, as it was, in their own little valley lake, Karl took occasion to inform his brother--Ossaroo at the same time listening attentively to his statement--of the various uses made of it by the inhabitants of Cashmeer.